When Lin Yan entered the Foning Hall, Lin Wan was holding a cup of tea and bowing to Mrs. Li and others one by one: "Grandma, have some tea, Yutu has been very well-behaved lately... ...Great-Grandmother, have some tea, this is Yutu's first time serving you tea, Great-Grandmother must drink it... ...Big Aunt, have some tea, Big Aunt, how did you become even more beautiful again? If you keep getting younger, Yutu won't recognize you anymore..."

  She spoke in a soft and gentle voice, but her movements were quick-witted and lovely. Her eyes rolled around rapidly as she chattered away with clever words, causing the old lady of Li's estate and others to burst into loud laughter.

  Mr. Li saw Lin Xiao walk in, smiling and bowing his waist while pointing at Lin Wan who was pretending to be silly and cute: "Yuanyuan, look at your sister, where did this girl learn her cleverness?"

  A noblewoman in fine clothes sitting next to Li heard her voice, smiled and turned around, saw Lin Daiyu, immediately raised an eyebrow and smiled, stretching out her hand to greet Lin Daiyu: "Yuanyuan is here, come quickly, let Auntie take a look."

  This person is indeed the eldest daughter of the Lin family, Lin He's big aunt, Qinghe Princess Wang Lin Xuan.

  Lin Daiyu smiled at her, then went to pay respects to Li Shi and Old Madame Zhuang one by one. After that, she walked over to her side and replied to Li Shi's words with a smile: "Young Jade was raised by her grandmother, so what she learned must have come from her grandmother. If she is clever, it must also be because her grandmother is clever."

  "Look at her, Lin Huandao. She's been out for a few years and now she's learned to flatter people too, only knowing how to please me."

  Lin Xuan smiled and said, "Mother, it's good that you're pleased, which means Yuan and Yu are filial." As he spoke, he pulled Lin Yi's hand over and pinched her cheek, saying, "It seems the illness has indeed gotten better, only she looks a bit thinner." After finishing speaking, he turned to Li Shi and said, "Still need to nourish herself more, supplement her energy. Don't look at it as a minor illness, but getting sick can also greatly harm one's body."

  "Then why didn't you replenish it? I even specially arranged for a chef who specializes in medicinal cuisine just for her."

  Lin Xiao leaned against Lin Huan's hand, rested her head on her shoulder and smiled: "Big Auntie, no matter how much you care about me, you can't make me fat by eating a big mouthful."

  Lin Xuan smiled and patted her head, smiling and saying: "You ah." As he thought of something, he asked her again: "By the way, have you seen Xiao Wu? He just said he was going to your yard to find you, why didn't I see him?"

  Lin Dai looked up and glanced at the house, then exclaimed: "He was just here a moment ago, saying he wanted to come in with me. How could he disappear in an instant?"

  Lin Huan furrowed his brow and said, "This child, if left unattended for a moment, will go up to the beam and lift the tiles."

  "Alright, he's just a young man, what would he want to stay with us old ladies for? This is his home, let him go out and have some fun."

  Lin Xuan just said so, but he didn't really dare to blame his young son. Seeing Li say this, he also stopped talking.

  Then Lin Xuan turned and said: "Right, mother, I heard the king's meaning, uncle is afraid to be transferred back to the Ministry of War, is this true?"

  The aunt Lin Huan spoke of was the only twin sister of Lao Wugong, who married Yang Ping, the commander-in-chief of Yunnan and Guizhou. In the Lin family, she should be addressed as Old Auntie.

  It turns out that the Lin family has a tradition of twins, and Mrs. Lin and Old Wu Guogong are twins. Although there were no twins in the direct line of Lin Xiao's father's generation, there were two pairs in the northwest branch of the family. In Lin Xiao's generation, Lin Chenggang and Lin Xuan are also twins.

  Mrs. Lin was married to Yang Ping when he was still a humble and unknown figure. At that time, the old Duke took a liking to Yang Ping, thinking that this man had great potential and would one day soar to great heights, so he gave his only daughter's hand in marriage to him. It is said that at the time, Mrs. Lin looked down on Yang Ping's humble origins and was unwilling to marry him.

  Yang Ping was resentful and married her, and after marrying her, he treated her extremely well. When others asked him why, Yang Ping said: "She despises me, I must treat her well, so that she feels guilty and regrets despising me at first."

  Later, whether Lin Laogu's wife regretted it or not is unknown, but in any case, after getting married, Lin Laogu's wife gave birth to five children one after another. For decades, Yang Ping had no concubines or mistresses by his side, and he became the representative of the best son-in-law for later generations of aristocratic families to choose from. And Yang Ping indeed rose to prominence as Old Guo Gong said at the time, becoming the commander-in-chief of Yunnan Province and holding the position for over a decade.

  Lin Xiao didn't know this aunt very well, she had only seen her twice when she was a child. In Lin Xiao's impression, she only remembered that she was an elegant and serious elder.

  Lin Huan listened with some confusion and asked: "But the Emperor wants to recall him? What does it mean for the Emperor to do this?"

  She was worried that the emperor had lost trust in the Lin family, and although Yang Ping's transfer back to the Ministry of War would result in a promotion, it was the General who truly held power and control over the troops.

  Li shook his head and said, "It was the uncle who decided to write a memorial requesting to return to Beijing to retire. Before he wrote the memorial, he sent a letter back asking for our opinions. After discussing it with your two younger brothers, I also think that this decision is good. Firstly, Uncle's age is indeed advanced, and he is no longer suitable for leading troops in battle. Taking this opportunity to return to Beijing to retire is also a good thing. Secondly, if Yuan really wants to...". Seeing Lin Huan standing next to Lin Di, he paused for a moment before continuing, "Our Lin family has already taken control of the military power in the northwest, and we are also relatives by marriage, plus the Crown Prince's position as heir apparent, it is already a precarious situation. If we add another relative who controls the military power in the southwest, wouldn't that be like adding fuel to the fire? Even if the Emperor doesn't think anything of it now, it's hard to guarantee that he won't become dissatisfied in the future. In this case, Uncle's decision to step down and reduce the tension for our Lin family is also a good thing. I think Uncle must have thought through this point too, which is why he proposed returning to Beijing."

  Li let out a sigh of relief, as long as it wasn't the Emperor who had suspicions about the Lin family and wanted to weaken their power. As for Yang Ping's request to return to the capital, Lin Huan also felt that the Lin family was too prominent and not necessarily a good thing, even if the Emperor didn't say anything, as a subject, one should know how to behave properly.

  "Then Uncle and Auntie as well as these two cousins will also be returning home?"

  Mr. Li said: "Your cousin's family will stay in Yunnan, and your aunt, uncle, and another cousin's family will return to Beijing next month."

  Lin Xuan nodded and said: "Just right, I haven't seen Aunt for many years either. From now on, there will be plenty of opportunities to move around..."

  The two of them talked until here, just as Zhuang's family came in and asked Li's family where the lunch was set.

  After Li replied, everyone moved to the Western Flower Hall for dinner.